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Valley of the Lackawanna and of Wyoming. 313 



1. Never to undertake an expensive excavation where the coal 

 IS not actually in sight, without previously ascertauiing its existence 

 and thickness by the aiiger^ Tunnels, galleries and pits, are enor- 

 mously expensive, compared with the simple and comparatively 

 cheap operation of boring. 



2. At present, not to undertake a new mine, where great drainins; 

 by mechanical power is necessary. 



These obvious cautions are the more necessary in tlie valley of 

 the Susquehanna and Lackawanna, because the number of excellent 

 mining situations In that region, is very great. In most of the coal 

 mines, now wrought in tliose valleys, there is litde or no inconven- 

 ience from water; it runs oif by the natural declivity, and by a ju- 

 dicious arrangement of the work, a drainage may, in a gieat majority 

 of instances, be established, both in the mines now worked, and in 

 those that are to be hereafter opened. 



.The great work at Carbondale,* at the head of the valley, being 

 wrought, like that at JMauch Chunk near the Lehigh, as au open quar- 

 ry, there is of course the greatest facility in coming at the coal, and 

 the water subsides into lower situations. Li the valley of the Sus- 

 quehanna and Lackawanna many such mines may be opened and 

 Worked, like quarries. Since 1S24, 1 Jiave been famihar with the use 

 of anthracite, in most of the varieties known in this country. For 

 die results of my own exjperience, I beg leave to refer to some pa- 

 pers in Vols. X and XI of this Journal for 1825 and 1826 : I would 

 cite also the valuable remarks of Mr. Cistj Vol. IV, and of Mr. Pierce, 

 Vol. XII, and of other gentlemen who have communicated their ob- 

 servations through the same channel. Without depreciating wood 

 and the bituminous coal, which must ever be held In high estimation 

 for fuel, my impressions of the value o( the anthracite have, by ex- 

 perience, constantly acquired strength ; and I regard the vast deposits 

 of Pennsylvania, as an invaluable national treasure, more import- 

 ant than mines of gold and silver- 

 There are varieues in the qualities of the anthracite of Pennsyl- 

 vania, from different regions ; from different mines j and from dif- 

 ferent parts of the same mine ; these varieties, relating chiefly to 

 tlie ease of igniting, the intenseness and endurance of the heat, the 

 more or less rapid consnmpdon of the fuel, and the proportion of 

 residuum, are, amon^ those interested, frequent subjects of discus- 



^ They are now beginning to mine into the bill between roof and pavement. 



Vol. XVIIL— No- 2. 40 



